Mercury

thats no big deal - its a masked IP not the real one.

Have a strategy going into the test... The key is not to waste time on any single question. If you are up against the clock figure out the questions that give you the biggest bang for the time spent. It looks like about 84% of the test are quick objective questions and about 15% are questions that need more work. What I would do is read the lengthy questions first and determine if you can answer them quickly. Option 1 - If the essay section is in fact easy then you can buy back a lot of time on the test by speeding through this essay section. This way when you near the end in a time crunch you can be kicking out the easy objective stuff and have less pressure. At the very end you can also fill in the squares with easy guesses rather than having to do an essay at the end. Option 2 - If the essay portion is very hard and a time waster then hit the objective portion banging out all the easy questions you can to get the guranteed highest grade to can. If you ace the objective portion then you'll be looking at a B. Then hit the essay and try to capture as much of the last 15% of the test as you can. To study create flash cards of all the material. Last words of wisdom - BE THE BALL SPALDING....Good luck.

I'm curious to see how good our connections are to the BF2 server. I would like to see based on those playing the game what a great connection looks like versus a junky one. I thought we may be able to all run ping plotter at www.pingplotter.com going to the server IP 70.86.73.59 and then copy and post a picture of your ping plotter results. The freeware version is located here http://www.pingplotter.com/downloads/pngplt_1.exe. Just load the application, enter the IP 70.86.73.59, hit TRACE, then let it log for about 10-15 minutes. After you let it run click on EDIT>COPY AS IMAGE and paste it into MS Paint. Save it as a 256 color image. Then just post to the forum. Attached is a sample of mine. Folks with a bad connection could then possibly take the information back to the ISP and show them what a good connection looks like. I would also like to see stat on DSL vs. Cable and geographic region differences. Thanks, Merc ArmoryPingPlot.bmp ArmoryPingPlot.bmp

Spark'em up!! Congrats!! /monthly_06_2011/post-1024-13081017982_thumb.jpg

3 options off the top of my head. In XP if you mutil select the pictures, right click, and then click send to email it should ask if you wish to resize the pics. Then you can just email it to yourself or save the email to your inbox. Pics are resized in email. Also if you have MS Office look in Start>Programs>MS Office>MS Office Tools for the Office Picture Manager. Start applicaiton, open picture - click PICTURE on the menu and then click RESIZE. Open MS Paint. Open picture. Select IMAGE on menu then STRECH/SKEW. Enter 50% for horizontal and vertical values. Save as a JPG or save at a reduced color bit level if you can reduce quality....

If the auto balance is shut off then I think the problem may go away. Merc

He's wearing the same uniform for China (look at my sleeves) - I kill him and gets tk. I try to change teams and because of autobalance can't. I exit the whole game and come back and it still is stuck. Whole squad I joined TK'd me too so it screws up the others scores as well. I think its an auto team balance issue where the system balances you but does not update the team friendly/foes correctly. Merc

Here are two screenshots showing that even though a player was on my team (China) and showed up with a proper uniform that on the screen he was flagged as an enemy (red name) and on the player scoreboard he was american. I tried to leave and rejoin the game and it still did it. Anyone know how to make it go away? Merc /monthly_06_2011/post-1024-130810179549_thumb.jpg /monthly_06_2011/post-1024-130810179553_thumb.jpg

I like this one better but its a gopher /monthly_06_2011/post-1024-130810179536_thumb.jpg

K2 - you running an escort service or what! Merc's here...Oh and its not an Apple - thats a thrash on the brother-in-law whos a big Mac fan. I put the sticker on Christmas and he thought I bought a Mac and got all excited like Mac Noobs/iPod Clones do. Anyone find the 50 cal shell on the desk? My FA good luck charm.... Windows: Windows XP5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2 Internet Explorer: 6.0.2900.2180 Memory (RAM): 2048 MB CPU Info: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ CPU Speed: 2204.8 MHz Sound card: Realtek AC97 Audio Display Adapters: All-in-Wonder X1800XL | All-in-Wonder X1800XL Secondary | UltraMon Display Mirror Driver | NetMeeting driver | RDPDD Chained DD | Screen Resolution: 1280 X 1024 Network: Network Present Network Adapters: NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller - Packet Scheduler Miniport | CD / DVD Drives: E: LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1213S | F: LITE-ON LTR-24102M | Default Printer: HP Color LaserJet 2840 PCL 6 COM Ports: COM1 | LPT Ports: LPT1 Mouse: 16 Button Wheel Mouse Present Hard Disks: C: 927.7GB | D: 149.0GB | P: 3.8GB | Hard Disks - Free: C: 886.7GB | D: 119.5GB | P: 804.3MB | USB Controllers: Detected: 5 host controllers. Firewire (1394): Detected: 1 host controllers. PCMCIA (Laptops): Not Installed Manufacturer: American Megatrends Inc. Product Make: System Product Name Serial Number: System Serial Number AC Power Status: OnLine BIOS Info: AT/AT COMPATIBLE | 12/14/05 | A M I - 12000514 | | Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time Battery: No Battery /monthly_06_2011/post-1024-130810178928_thumb.jpg /monthly_06_2011/post-1024-130810178935_thumb.jpg /monthly_06_2011/post-1024-130810178942_thumb.jpg /monthly_06_2011/post-1024-130810178947_thumb.jpg /monthly_06_2011/post-1024-130810178955_thumb.jpg /monthly_06_2011/post-1024-13081017896_thumb.jpg

Hug your wife and kids - count your blessings - and make all the friends you can. Time is always ticking..... http://www.findyourfate.com/deathmeter/deathmtr.html

Pant! Pant! How bout an aug!

A8N32-SLI Specs Audio 8-channel AC'97 audio via nForce4 SLI and Realtek ALC850 codec Realtek ALC850 Running great so far....

You had to ask! Didn't want to say anything but I just brought those back to Best Buy - didn't like their options and performance for the price.... I figured 2 speakers, no 5.1 support, no optical, and retail price tag of about $270 non-thx certified. I love Bose - have some 15 year old AM5s - but for PC speakers I played some BF2 and didn't think they faired any better than the Altec Lansings I currently have. I'll let you know the verdict when I get the logitechs. Jury's still out.... Bose are a great speaker though - I bet they're killer listening to the admin tool audio!

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1877875,00.asp http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1877878,00.asp Final Thoughts Klipsch may have ushered in the age of high-end PC desktop audio when it introduced the Promedia line several years ago, but it hasn't kept the line fresh enough, and Logitech and Creative have taken the baton and run with it. Logitech's latest high-performance system adds a new twist by improving the quality of the decoder and moving to wireless rear speakers. I went with these after reading several reivews like the one above. Got them for about $340. Bought them primarily for 1) the input options - want to use the optical input, 2) THX certification - previous experience with other certified equip have been great, and 3) I could really use the wireless back speakers - will work great in my 10x12 office. I'll let you know how they go! Merc

Know your gas..... Don't store in areas over 125F like next to a heater or campfire. Don't smoke while playing or you'll quit smoking real fast. Don't service a leaky container - replace. Don't use screwdrivers or other sharp tools on gun or canister. Use only odorized propane so you'll know its leaking. If you're getting dizzy from the gas - you're suffocating. Don't try to make your gun a flame thrower - doesn't work that way. http://www.puyallupfire.com/lepc/propane.htm Merc

http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16836119106 the comments kinda worried me a bit about blown speakers..... I have a huge Klipsch subwoofer for my home system so I know they make pretty good stuff. I didn't think them really knowing to much on what a PC user would want to do with speakers. I like how the upper level logitechs seem to have more connectivity options and are THX certified. My Kenwood VR-5900 Soverign system is THX certified and it absolutely delivers some great 5.1 sound. I'll do some shopping. So you guys are all running Klipsch? Thanks for the help.

I'm thinking these..... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836121133

Buying new PC equipment and giving my old stuff as gifts like it was new - everyone is happy!.....

Damn and I was having a hard time forgetting your burnt turkey grease covered toe post......

Man looks nice....consider even buying and flipping on ebay. Just built one... AMD 939 X2 4200 2GB Cosair XMS ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 ATI All In Wonder X1800 Raid 0 - 4 WD 250GB Twin 19" Viewsonics Flat Panels.

I'd like to take a census on what you think are the best PC speakers on the market. I'm lookin to buy some - probably 5.1 with optical input. I was wondering what the average joe is running. Any stellar recommendations? Thanks - Merc.

I've hated them.... You can also throw the M95 in the ammo dump and blast them with some C4.